Method, system and communication terminal for utilising a multimedia messaging service format for applications

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a method, system and communication terminal for utilizing a MS format for user interfaces for applications running animations or audio-recordings, or showing screen images guiding an operator through a specific menu sequence.

This application is the National Stage of International Application No.PCT/IB2002/004733, International Filing Date, Nov. 13, 2002, whichdesignated the United States of America, and which internationalapplication was published under PCT Article 21(2) as WO Publication No.WO 2004/045232 A1.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for utilizing a MMS format for userinterfaces for applications such as running animations oraudio-recordings, or such as showing screen images guiding an operatorthrough a specific menu sequence. This invention further relates to acommunication terminal for executing applications utilizing a MMS formatfor providing a user with a multimedia assistance during for example theuser's maneuvering through a menu.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Lately, communication terminals have evolved to perform, in addition tovoice communication, generation and transmission of text messages suchas Short Messaging Services (SMS) messages as well as MultimediaMessaging Service (MMS) messages comprising a video, picture or audiosequence. In addition, operators transmit their logo for displaying onthe communication terminal in accordance with position of thecommunication terminal. Furthermore, the communication terminals haveevolved to include personal digital assistant (PDA) features such ascalendar, address book, and even email functions.

European patent application EP 1 197 901, which hereby is incorporatedby reference in the present specification, discloses a hand-portablecommunication terminal comprising a control unit for running a reminderapplication and a display for presenting the reminders in a text window.The reminder application enables a user to transmit text reminders to aremote second communication terminal via a wireless network. Preferablythese text reminders are transferred via the wireless network includedin a message according to the SMS format. The user interfaces forapplications run on a communication terminal, however, are generallybased on a text format. Although the text format is a simple format,which does not require much processor time, the users of communicationterminals demand improved interfaces and multimedia capabilities ontheir communication terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a communicationterminal capable of executing applications utilizing the MMS format forinternally storing various multimedia data. The communication terminalmay be mobile or cellular phones, personal digital assistants orpersonal computers, used in a wireless communication network.

A particular advantage of the present invention is provision of userinterfaces which guide a user of a communication terminal through aspecific sequence of operations.

A particular feature of the present invention relates to the provisionof a reminder system enabling a user of a communication terminal torecord a reminder on a communication terminal in the MMS format, whichreminder thereby may contain a recording of an audio or visual sequencecaptured by the communication terminal or received at the communicationterminal and stored by the user.

The above objects, advantage and feature together with numerous otherobjects, advantages and features, which will become evident from belowdetailed description, are obtained according to a first aspect of thepresent invention by a communication terminal comprising:

-   -   a) a control module for executing an application comprising an        executable program;    -   b) a multimedia generating module for generating a recording;    -   c) storage module for storing said application and for storing        said recording in a multimedia format; and    -   d) a multimedia playing module for playing said recording; and        wherein

said control module is adapted to associate said recording with saidapplication and to control said multimedia playing module to play saidrecording in conjunction with said control module executing saidapplication.

The term “a” or “an” should in this context be construed as one or more,or a single or plurality of elements.

The communication terminal according to the first aspect of the presentinvention may comprise a mobile or cellular phone, a personal officeassistant or a personal computer. The communication terminal may beconnected to a network such as wireless telecommunication network aswell as a wired or wireless computer network such as a local areanetwork (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN)or an internetwork (e.g. the Internet). Further, the communicationterminal may be connected to an over the air (OTA), a cable or satellitetelevision network, or to a power network. In practice, any type ofcommunication network or potential communication network may be used forcarrying messages between communication terminals.

The multimedia playing module according to the first aspect of thepresent invention may be adapted to play the recording either through adisplay, a loudspeaker, or a combination thereof.

The recording according to the first aspect of the present invention maycomprise a text, a series of texts, a picture, a series of pictures, avideo sequence, a series of video sequences, an audio track, a series ofaudio tracks, or any combination thereof. The multimedia format may be amultimedia messaging service (MMS) format. By encapsulating therecording in a MMS format a wide spread of new possibilities in userinterfaces is provided.

The application according to the first aspect of the present inventionmay comprise an executable program such as a power up/down sequence,incoming and outgoing call sequence, call termination sequence, networkoperator service initiation.

Hence, combining the application and the recording in a MMS formatprovides an excellent possibility for generating a user interface for,e.g., a powering up sequence of a cellular phone, since the MMS formatenables the network operator to provide information to the cellularphone in a multimedia format. Alternatively, the powering up sequencemay comprise a multimedia section describing various types ofinformation in regards to for example power left in the cellular phoneor reception conditions of the antenna.

The communication terminal according to the first aspect of the presentinvention may further comprise a calendar module for enabling a user ofthe communication terminal to generate a reminder as a recording in themultimedia format. The reminder may thus comprise a multimedia messagefor alerting the user about certain activities. The introduction of anaudio or video recording provides a significant improvement to the knowntypes of reminders used in communication terminals, i.e. text typereminders.

The communication terminal according to the first aspect of the presentinvention may further comprise a media recording module for generatingthe recording in the multimedia format and for forwarding the recordingto the multimedia generating module. The media recording module maycomprise an input device such as a camera, a microphone, a keyboard, ascanner, a card reader, a biometric reader such as a fingerprint, irisor voice recognition device, an action sensitive display, or anycombination thereof. The recording in the multimedia format for aparticular application may be performed directly on the communicationterminal. That is, the input device may be adapted to record an audiousing a microphone on the communication terminal, an image or series ofimages using a camera on the communication terminal, or simply a textutilizing a keyboard on the communication terminal. The elements, suchas for example a camera, are generally available on cellular or mobilephones developed during the recent years and thus the present inventionprovides a supplement use of these elements to record reminders to bestored in a calendar.

The communication terminal according to the first aspect of the presentinvention may further comprise a memory communication device forconnecting to an external memory module through an interface device,which external memory module is adapted to store the application and therecording in a multimedia format. External memory should in this contextbe construed as non-integrated memory, that is the external memory maycomprise a memory card such as a secure digital card, a compact flashcard, a smart media card, and a multimedia card, read only memory cardsuch as a SIM card or credit card, a smart card or a PC card, or amovable hard or floppy disk drive, or any combination thereof. Since thememory cards have constantly powered non-volatile memory, the data arestable on the cards. Further, since memory cards are solid state mediano moving parts are included, and therefore they do not suffer frommechanical difficulties.

The interface device according to the first aspect of the presentinvention may comprise a wired or wireless connection link. Theconnection link may be established by a wireless connection such as aninfrared connection or a radio frequency modulated connection or a wiredone such as provided by a cable. The interface device may be adapted tocommunicate in accordance with a communication protocol such asbluetooth protocol, a transmission control protocol, Internet protocol,user datagram protocol, or any combination thereof.

Alternatively to generating a personal recording the communicationterminal according to the first aspect of the present invention may beconnected to a server through a network, such as for example describedabove. The multimedia generating module may be adapted to receive therecording and/or associated application from the server, which recordingand/or application is to be stored in the storage module and played bythe multimedia playing module and executed by the control module,respectively. The applications may be updated versions of programsreplacing existing outdated versions of programs. By connecting to aserver the communication terminal may continuously be updated in regardsto providing a communication tool i.e. the communication terminal, whichoperates according to the most recent and fastest applications.

The above objects, advantage and feature together with numerous otherobjects, advantages and features, which will become evident from belowdetailed description, are obtained according to a second aspect of thepresent invention by a method for utilizing a recording in a multimediaformat for an application executed on a communication terminal, andcomprising:

-   -   (a) generating said recording in a multimedia format by means of        a multimedia generating module;    -   (b) associating said recording with said application by means of        said multimedia generating module;    -   (c) storing said recording and said application by means of a        local storage module on said communication terminal; and    -   (d) executing said application and playing said recording by        means of a control module and a media playing module.

The generation of a recording according to the second aspect of thepresent invention may comprise receiving multimedia data from a serverover a network and converting the multimedia data to the recording bymeans of the multimedia generating module. Alternatively oradditionally, the generation of a recording may comprise receivingmultimedia data from a multimedia recording module of the communicationterminal and converting the multimedia data to the recording by means ofthe multimedia generating module. The method significantly improvesapplications to be run or communicated to a communication terminal sincethe user interface associated with an application may be supplied withmultimedia support such as images, video or audio.

The term “executed” should in this context be construed as run or playedon the communication terminal. The application per se may in fact beexecuted on a server, while the communication terminal provides the userinterfaces on the associated display.

The multimedia format application according to the second aspect of thepresent invention may comprise a multimedia messaging service (MMS)format. The MMS format provides a standardized format for handlingmultimedia messages to be communicated between communication terminalsinterconnected through a wireless telecommunication network.

The generation of the recording in a multimedia format according to thesecond aspect of the present invention may comprise capturing multimediadata by means of an input device and sequencing the multimedia data. Themultimedia data may be captured using any form of digital or digitizedanalog recording apparatus. The multimedia data may be transferred to acommunication terminal or server utilizing any type of wired or wirelessconnection. The multimedia data may in fact as described with referenceto the first aspect of the present invention be recorded by acommunication terminal, this in effect, provides great versatility sinceeach user of a communication terminal may generate personal applicationssuch as for example reminders.

The method according to the second aspect of the present invention mayincorporate any feature of the communication terminal according to thefirst aspect of the present invention.

The above objects, advantage and feature together with numerous otherobjects, advantages and features, which will become evident from belowdetailed description, is obtained according to a second aspect of thepresent invention by a system for utilizing a recording in a multimediaformat for an application executed on a communication terminal, andcomprising:

-   -   (a) a communication terminal comprising:        -   (i) a control module for executing an application comprising            an executable program;        -   (ii) a multimedia generating module for generating a            recording;        -   (iii) storage module for storing said application and for            storing said recording in a multimedia format; and        -   (iv) a multimedia playing module for playing said recording;            and wherein        -   said control module is adapted to associate said recording            with said application and to control said multimedia playing            module to play said recording in conjunction with said            control module executing said application; and    -   (b) a server for generating and forwarding said application        and/or said recording to said communication terminal over        communication network.

The system according to the third aspect of the present invention mayincorporate any features of the communication terminal according to thefirst aspect of the present invention and any features of the methodaccording to second aspect of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferredembodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appendeddrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a communication terminal according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a communication system according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the various embodiments reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and inwhich, by way of illustration, various embodiments are shown, in whichthe invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modificationsmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A communication terminal according to a presently preferred embodimentof the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as designated in itsentirety by reference numeral 100. The communication terminal 100comprises a messaging module 102 for transmitting and receiving anytypes of data packages through a wireless communication network; acalendar module 104 for enabling a user of the communication terminal100 to perform general calendar operations, such as storing orretrieving any form of time related data e.g. alerts, meetings orspecial days; a media playback module 106 for outputting a recordingeither by display or loudspeaker or a combination thereof; a storagemodule 108 for storing recordings in a multimedia format; and a controlmodule 110 for executing an application in conjunction with the mediaplayback module 106 outputs an associated recording.

The calendar module 104 cooperates with a media generating module 112through the control module 110 for generating and associating arecording in a multimedia format such as the MMS format with anapplication to be executed by the control module 110. The mediagenerating module 112 receives a recording from a keyboard, amicrophone, a camera, a scanner, a card reader, an iris reader, afingerprint reader, an action sensitive display, or any combinationthereof, which is designated in entirety by reference numeral 116.Alternatively, the media generating module 112, as will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 2, receives the recording from a serverproviding multimedia data to be associated with a specific application.The multimedia data may be a text, a series of texts, a picture, aseries of pictures, a video sequence, a series of video sequences, anaudio track, a series of audio tracks, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 2, shows a communication system designated in entirety by referencenumeral 200 and comprising the communication terminal 100, as describedwith reference to FIG. 1, communicating through a communication network202 with a server 206.

The communication terminal 100 comprises an antenna 114 for connectingto a communication network 202 such as wireless telecommunicationnetwork as well as a wired or wireless computer network such as a localarea network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network(MAN) or an internetwork (e.g. the Internet). Further, the antenna 114may be connected to an over the air (OTA), a cable or satellitetelevision network, or to a power network.

The server 206 is connected to the communication terminal 100 throughthe communication network 202 via a first wireless link 204 and a secondwired or wireless link 208. The server 206 provides applications andassociated recordings in multimedia format, which are to be stored inthe storage module 108 of the communication terminal 100 and to beexecuted by the control module 110 and by the multimedia playing module106. The applications and associated recordings may be updated versionsof programs replacing existing outdated versions of programs. Byconnecting to the server 206 the communication terminal 100 iscontinuously updated. The communication tool 100 is thereby continuouslyenabled to operate according to the most recent and fastestapplications.

For example if the communication terminal 100 needs an updatedapplication, maybe because the present power up sequence installed onthe communication terminal 100 is determined by a clock functionlimiting use of the communication terminal 100, then the server 206provides an updated application to the communication terminal 100through the communication network 202. Furthermore, the server 206 uponrequest from the communication terminal 100 may forward a wide varietyof applications to be stored on the storage module 108. The applicationsand associated multimedia data may be games or new features for existingapplications on the communication terminal 100.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the presentlypreferred embodiment of the present invention designated in entirety byreference numeral 300. The method 300 comprises a start 302 level duringwhich the fundamental requirements such as file format andimplementation procedure is established.

Furthermore, the method 300 comprises a generation procedure 304 forgenerating a recording in a multimedia format and an associationprocedure 306 for associating the recording with an application to berun in a communication terminal. The generation procedure 304 comprisesreceiving multimedia data such as a text, a series of texts, a picture,a series of pictures, a video sequence, a series of video sequences, anaudio track, a series of audio tracks, or any combination thereof. Theassociation procedure 306 comprises determination of association of themultimedia data with an application. That is the association procedure306 links the multimedia data to the application.

The method 300 further, during a storing procedure 308, stores therecording in the multimedia format and the application in a memory. Thememory may be a local memory integrated on a communication terminal suchas a cellular phone, or an external memory, for example, on a server.The local memory may be an erasable as well as static type memory orboth types. In case the recording is stored on the external memory, therecording will be forwarded to the communication terminal, when thecommunication terminal requests this.

The method 300 further comprises a executing procedure 310 for playingthe recording in the multimedia format in association with the executingof the application. Hence the communication terminal may present amultimedia interface for a user, while the user for example is poweringup his cellular phone. In addition, the communication terminal enablesthe user to record a message and store the message in a multimediaformat locally on the communication terminal, which message may beassociate with a reminder application. That is, the reminder applicationutilizes the multimedia format such as MMS to store a reminder, whichmay comprise a message containing multimedia data.

Finally, the method 300 comprises a termination procedure 312 duringwhich the method 300 makes itself available for generation of furthermultimedia format applications.

1. A communication terminal comprising: a) a multimedia generatingmodule for generating a recording in a multimedia format; b) a calendarmodule for enabling a user of said communication terminal to generate areminder in said multimedia format; c) storage module for storing saidreminder, and for storing said recording in a multimedia format; d) acontrol module for executing said reminder comprising an executableprogram; and e) a multimedia playing module for playing said recording,and wherein said control module is adapted to associate said recordingwith said reminder and to control said multimedia playing module to playsaid recording in conjunction with said control module executing saidreminder.
 2. A communication terminal according to claim 1, comprising amobile or cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personalcomputer, or any combination thereof.
 3. A communication terminalaccording to claim 1, being adapted to connect to a network such aswireless telecommunication network as well as a wired or wirelesscomputer network such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network(WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), internetwork, or any combinationthereof.
 4. A communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein saidcommunication terminal is adapted to connect to a server through saidnetwork.
 5. A communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein saidcommunication terminal is adapted to receive said recording and/orreminder from said server, which recording and/or reminder is to bestored in said storage module and played by said multimedia playingmodule and executed by said control module, respectively.
 6. Acommunication terminal according to claim 1, being adapted to connect toan over the air (OTA), a cable or satellite television network, a powernetwork, or any combination thereof.
 7. A communication terminalaccording to claim 1, wherein said recording comprises a text, a seriesof texts, a picture, a series of pictures, a video sequence, a series ofvideo sequences, an audio track, a series of audio tracks, or anycombination thereof.
 8. A communication terminal according to claim 1,wherein said multimedia format is a multimedia messaging service (MMS)format.
 9. A communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein saidreminder comprises an executable program such as a power up/downsequence, incoming and outgoing call sequence, call terminationsequence, network operator service initiation, or any combinationthereof.
 10. A communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein saidmedia recording module comprises an input device such as a camera, amicrophone, a keyboard, a scanner, a card reader, a biometric reader, anaction sensitive display, or any combination thereof.
 11. Acommunication terminal according to claim 1, further comprises a memorycommunication device for connecting to an external memory module throughan interface device, which external memory module is adapted to storesaid reminder and said recording in a multimedia format.
 12. Acommunication terminal according to claim 11, wherein said externalmemory module comprises a memory card such as a secure digital card, acompact flash card, a smart media card, and a multimedia card, read onlymemory card such as a SIM card or credit card, a smart card or PC card,or a movable hard or floppy disk drives, or any combination thereof. 13.A communication terminal according to claim 12, wherein said interfacedevice is adapted to communicate in accordance with a communicationprotocol such as bluetooth protocol, a transmission control protocol,Internet protocol, user datagram protocol, or any combination thereof.14. A communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein saidinterference device comprises a wired or wireless connection link.
 15. Amethod for utilizing a recording in a multimedia format as a reminderfor a calendar application executed on a communication terminal, andcomprising: (a) generating said recording in said multimedia format bymeans of a multimedia generating module; (b) associating said recordingwith said reminder by means of a control module; (c) storing saidrecording and said reminder by means of a storage module on saidcommunication terminal; and (d) executing said reminder and playing saidrecording by means of said control module controlling a multimediaplaying module.
 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein saidgenerating a recording comprises receiving multimedia data from a serverover a network and converting said multimedia data to said recording bymeans of said multimedia generating module.
 17. A method according toclaim 15, wherein said generating a recording further comprisesreceiving multimedia data from a multimedia recording module of saidcommunication terminal and converting said multimedia data to saidrecording by means of said multimedia generating module.
 18. A methodaccording to claim 15, wherein said multimedia format reminder comprisesa multimedia messaging service (MMS) format.
 19. A method according toclaim 15, wherein said multimedia data is transferred to saidcommunication terminal or server utilizing any type of wired or wirelessconnection.
 20. A system for utilizing a recording in a multimediaformat as a reminder for a calendar application executed on acommunication terminal, and comprising: (a) said communication terminalcomprising: (i) a control module for executing said reminder comprisingan executable program; (ii) a multimedia generating module forgenerating a recording in said multimedia format; (iii) storage modulefor storing said reminder and for storing said recording in saidmultimedia format; and (iv) a multimedia playing module for playing saidrecording; and wherein said control module is adapted to associate saidrecording with said reminder and to control said multimedia playingmodule to play said recording in conjunction with said control moduleexecuting said reminder; and (b) a server for generating and forwardingsaid reminder and/or said recording to said communication terminal overcommunication network.